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News | Michigan

MICHIGAN

Information leak leads to staff suspension

Jon Styf
October 23, 2006

A Democratic staffer was suspended by the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee last week under suspicion of leaking classified information. Chairman Pete Hoekstra, a Representative from Holland, said Friday that the staff's suspension was a precaution until the committee investigates. Concern centers around a leak to The New York Times last month regarding a National Intelligence Estimate on global terror trends.

MICHIGAN

Student-housing search starts early

Kris Turner
October 23, 2006

Come and get it. The race to find housing for the 2007-08 school year is on, with students flocking to leasing offices across East Lansing, scrambling to get a house or apartment that's close to campus, yet still affordable. Having already signed a lease for a house this year, Scott Dunn, a political science and pre-law junior, said Sunday afternoon that he and his roommates began looking for another place to live as soon as school started because they wanted their own bedrooms.

MICHIGAN

DeVos proposes development in urban areas

Lindsey Poisson
October 23, 2006

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos announced a plan on Friday to revitalize Michigan's urban areas if he's elected in November. DeVos' plan proposes specific ways to help urban areas, such as creating an urban jobs director, acquiring a federal block grant for job training, putting more police officers on the street and giving students from urban areas a chance to go to college.

MICHIGAN

Students take to streets, volunteer

Gabrielle Russon
October 23, 2006

Before college, all of Emily Thomas' attempts at community service were duds. "I tried to organize raking leaves for senior citizens, and only three people showed up," Thomas said about her senior year of high school in Berkley, Mich. But this weekend, Thomas wasn't the only person motivated to improve her community.

MICHIGAN

Awareness hits Capitol steps

Lindsey Poisson
October 20, 2006

Awareness advocates and survivors plan to rally almost all day Saturday in front of the Capitol for what is expected to be the largest Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser event to come to Lansing. The goal for this 8th annual walking event, which will start at the Capitol building and loop around the Lansing Hall of Justice, is to raise $230,000 this weekend — which is $30,000 more than last year, said Steve Konsdorf, American Cancer Society executive director for the greater Lansing area.

MICHIGAN

Job rate stagnates as elections draw nearer

Gabrielle Russon
October 20, 2006

The state's unemployment rate stayed fixed at 7.1 percent from August to September, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth announced this week. With November elections approaching, the economy has dominated political television advertisements and the recent gubernatorial debates, students said. The economy plays a huge role in Chelsea Levin's vote for governor. "My family experienced job loss," the studio art and advertising freshman said.

MICHIGAN

Crime suspects to appear in court

Below are updates for ongoing court cases involving individuals with East Lansing and MSU ties: The following three men were charged in connection to an alleged Feb.

MICHIGAN

Warrant for MSU football player issued Tuesday

Bobby Jones, recently dismissed MSU football player wanted for assault and battery this week, turned himself in Wednesday to Clinton County Jail and was later released on a $300 court bond. Clinton County assistant prosecutor Kevin Hayes authorized a warrant for his arrest Tuesday. Jones was wanted in connection with an assault and battery of a 20-year-old woman Sunday at The Club at Chandler Crossings apartment complex in Bath Township.

MICHIGAN

Gov. gains Kerry's support

Kristyn Peterson  and  Lindsey Poisson
October 19, 2006

Lansing — U.S. Sen. John Kerry endorsed Gov. Jennifer Granholm Wednesday afternoon at a memorial dedication for fallen law enforcement officers in Lansing as part of his monthlong campaigning effort for Democratic candidates across the country. At the Lansing event, Kerry emphasized sacrifices law enforcement officers make daily during the dedication of the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument. "The very least we can do is honor the sacrifice, honor the fallen heroes.

MICHIGAN

Potter Park Zoo could face downsizing if millage doesn't pass

Trey Scroggin
October 18, 2006

A proposal on the Ingham County ballot to increase funding for the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing might make the difference in the zoo's survival. And that, supporters say, is important enough to impose a $46 annual tax increase, at most, on property owners in the county. "Basically, Lansing has built a pretty nice zoo but then couldn't afford to keep it up," said Ingham County Commissioner Mark Grebner.

MICHIGAN

Marcinkowski: Free trade hurts Mich.

Trey Scroggin
October 17, 2006

Jim Marcinkowski has waged a campaign focused on change. The Democratic challenger for Michigan's 8th Congressional District, which includes MSU, says he wants to "put this country back on course" by increasing funding for health care, withdrawing troops from Iraq and improving the country's economy. After spending more than 30 years in government service, including tenures in the FBI, CIA and Navy Marcinkowski switched to politics and joined the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office where he became Royal Oak's deputy city attorney in 1996.

MICHIGAN

Laws against drunken intruding may be lessened

Kris Turner
October 17, 2006

East Lansing is easing up on drunkards who wander into the wrong house. Currently, wandering into someone else's home after a night of drunken debauchery can send someone to jail with a felony charge on his or her criminal record. But if the City Council amends a few city laws at its meeting tonight, East Lansing's lushes could instead stagger away with a fine or 90-day misdemeanor. This way, the police department can forward the information to the East Lansing city attorney, and any cases will be handled on a local level, instead of going to circuit court. Police now have to fill out paperwork for the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office and wait for charges to be issued for these cases. "It streamlines the paperwork," East Lansing Deputy police Chief Juli Liebler said of the amendment. There were about five instances of intoxicated people entering the wrong residence during Welcome Weekend, and it happens at least a couple of times each weekend, Liebler said. "We've had people come in and make themselves a sandwich or get in somebody else's bed," she said.

MICHIGAN

Rogers wants initiative to create jobs

Lindsey Poisson
October 17, 2006

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers says he will pursue alternative energy and reforming health care if re-elected by Michigan voters on Nov.7. Serving as Michigan's 8th Congressional District representative in Washington, D.C., since 2000, Rogers said despite the work he's done in his term, there's more to do. The federal government reported a 4.6 percent national unemployment rate, 6.1 million jobs created in the last three years and the nation's deficit was cut in half, Rogers said. Michigan's unemployment rate is about 7.1 percent. "If you look at the national economy, Michigan is way behind," he said.